When is the Time Right for Air Conditioner Replacement?

Published on April 08, 2015

Replacing your home’s air conditioner is probably one of the biggest decisions you will make this summer to keep your family comfortable. Whether to choose between an AC repair or an entire air conditioner replacement is a decision you may have to consider. Luckily for you there is a point at which you can know it’s time to stop investing in AC repairs and choose to replace your air conditioner.

Increasing AC Age

Something to consider before getting too far in to the process is the age of the air conditioner. Like many mechanical devices, air conditioners will wear out over time. With a new air conditioner, cutting-edge technology offers increased comfort and better reliability, for less money. While it’s not on the same scale, you could equate heating and air conditioning equipment to computers. The technology does have a life expectancy and newer, more advanced upgrades are continuously being created.

Increasing AC Repair Costs

With an appliance as complex as a central air conditioner, there are parts that wear down and break down over time, especially if routine maintenance has not been done. A well-maintained air conditioner should work well throughout peak air conditioning season. A good rule of thumb when deciding to get a new air conditioner is that if annual AC repair costs approach $1,200, it’s likely a good time to replace. That’s because the average monthly payment of an entirely new air conditioning system is the equivalent of that single repair cost.

Another way to think about this is, if the cost for the AC repair is 1/12 of the cost of a new AC replacement, the advantages of the replacement air conditioner in low monthly payments, energy bill reduction and increased comfort likely compensates for the investment in the AC repair.

Decreasing Efficiency

Seeing decreases in your energy bill doesn’t take long when it happens month after month. It can be easy to write it off as an abnormality, but be sure to take a closer look at the energy you’re consuming and see if those increases are due to higher usage, or more likely due to something else like lower efficiency of your home’s air conditioner. The older your AC system gets (and the longer it goes before being maintained), the more inefficient it will become. It may also be a light bulb that it’s time for air conditioner replacement.

Noise Pollution

Older air conditioners and ductwork operate much louder than today’s new AC systems. That loud clanking you’ve become used to, or the overall noise level when the air conditioner is working could mean the end is near for your current air conditioner. You might now realize how much noise you and your family have been living with until you realize the extreme quiet that a newer, more modern air conditioning system can offer.

Of course, these aren’t the only concerns that indicate the need for air conditioner replacement, but they are a few of the more common ones that we see all the time. Strand Brothers Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help by giving you a free assessment of your home’s air conditioning system to help determine whether the time has come for your air conditioner to be replaced, or if it’s best to move forward with an AC repair. Austin has trusted us for a reason, and that’s because your comfort is always top priority. Give us a call at 512-592-3072 or set up a free appointment today.

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